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Post by Jeff Schenk on Feb 11, 2016 10:22:01 GMT
What do those of you that run on Ambulance's think of some of the new styles of Ambulances? I know that some of the chassis only come with gasoline engines now. I think they are underpowered. There is a difference in fuel usage, the diesels seem to get better mileage on trips. Some gasoline ones doesn't have high idle on them, so the lights flicker when working in it. The first gasoline ambulance for work was just ordered. Some guys are excited and some don't want to give up the diesels. The sizes of the boxes are getting smaller too. It might be better because all your cabinets and supplies are closer to you, but working a on patients when you need extra help doesn't seem to allow for it.
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Post by durfeew on Feb 11, 2016 18:25:48 GMT
I agree diesels are the way to go. They are more fuel efficient and have more torque. Also they tend to last longer for they operate at lower rpm's, and are built heavier due to the higher compression. As for the newer rigs, I really like the Sprinters, they come in diesel, are very spacious inside and drive really nicely. They appear top heavy but it doesn't seem so when driving them.
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Post by jasontiffin on Feb 11, 2016 22:45:02 GMT
My opinion is that when it comes to ambulance style, shape, gas or diesel, and how its built, are decision factors made by the management people of the companies we work for to do, as it's all about the money thing for them. I just want to be able to have a safe feeling going to a call, transporting from it and then returning safely in it, so I can go home to my family at the end of shift. No matter what ambulance I'm in, the factors of size, shape, age, type, gas or diesel, don't truly matter to me as we all want the top of the line, safest, most efficient and best built ambulance out there, but some places just can't afford them. With a well kept preventative maintenance program by our employers, that safe feeling can be had. I have worked in all of the types of ambulances that we have in this area and in the Syracuse region and all have their pros and cons to them. I've had each type break down on me and even had some that I've wanted to drive into a tree but I can't The gas ones I have worked in at NAVAC and COCVAC are both gas style with a different layout in the back of each, good working space and also with some pep to them. But as for gas mileage, not so much. The diesels that we have are still doing their job for what they are designed and have space for working in the back as well. Diesels do idol better and are made for that. I've also been in some ambulances that are too big as well which poses a problem getting equipment to treat our patients if it's not within arms reach and also the bigger the space the more people it seems to attract when trying to work a cardiac arrest. Yeah I just ended up throwing a lot of people out but the point of being too big can poses issues as well. Whether we get to a calls extremely fast or slow, the issue of safety comes to mind first and foremost and it's the other people on the road we need to watch. With the equipment we are given including the ambulances we drive, we have to make the most of it even if it's not your "favorite" as its not about us, but about our "customers" aka: our patients. If your company or department can afford the better ones then that is a bonus, but if not, as the providers that have to ride in them and work in them, making a simple suggestion as to what you like or what might work better is easy to do. Also, forming an ambulance committee with many diverse individuals in your company or department who all have different experiences in ambulances might be able to come together to make you happy and not just a few individuals who only want what they want. I want to go home at the end of shift and if I don't feel safe in my ambulance I'm assigned to for the day then I speak up.
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Post by Brian Sweatman on Feb 16, 2016 20:26:31 GMT
I don't work out of an ambulance but hear many good things about the new ambulance styles. Oh course, along with the goods come bad. With the road conditions that we may encounter, some of the newer styles don't handle as well. I have had the pleasure of assisting out of the older ambulance style and new style, which I feel the newer style has more room to work from compared to the older styles.
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Post by rodw on Feb 18, 2016 0:18:46 GMT
as stated gas or diesel doesn't matter as long as the rig is safe from a personal preference I like the smaller van type for the ease of reaching supplies as there are normally only 2 providers on a commercial rig the bigger box type are good for agencies that have 3 or more providers per call
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Post by jimdale on Mar 8, 2016 21:20:09 GMT
The new vans are a lot nicer to work in . You don't have to worry about bumping you head every time you do something. of course these are not the $300,000 ones I am talking about. I guess if you have that kind of money to burn its ok. but the same kind of care can be bought for a lot less.
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Post by timdodge on Mar 10, 2016 2:30:24 GMT
I don't work out of the back of an ambulance but diesel is the way to go. The sprinter seems to be the way of the future all professions are buying them.
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Post by Matt W. on Mar 10, 2016 15:02:09 GMT
I agree with it ultimately comes down to safety. Personally I like working out of a van style rig. I feel that it is safer and doesn't require you to get up all that much to retrieve treatment items where as a box style rig your are more prone to get up to grab something.
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Post by kaylawalker on Mar 15, 2016 0:49:31 GMT
I've worked out of the older van style which is very tight if you have more than one person back there. I've also worked in the box style ambulances which aren't to bad, but the Sprinters look like they have more room and are easier to work out of however I have not worked out of one so it hard really be able to compare. As far as diesel or gas I would have to say diesel is the way to go it more fuel efficient and they tend to last longer.
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rod
New Member
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Post by rod on Mar 15, 2016 23:58:15 GMT
as stated gas or diesel doesn't matter as long as the rig is safe from a personal preference I like the smaller van type for the ease of reaching supplies as there are normally only 2 providers on a commercial rig the bigger box type are good for agencies that have 3 or more providers per call |
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Post by jwalts07 on Mar 16, 2016 15:07:44 GMT
My agency has chose to stick with diesel rigs. We operate the sprinters. I feel the sprinters are a great option, however I do think the patient compartment is a little narrow. It is easy to reach supplies and maneuver cabinets, however I feel it's a little tight when running a code or high priority call with more than 1 person in the back. I will say the drive and ride extremely smooth and all and all I think they are a great option.
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Post by jimano on Mar 18, 2016 16:06:46 GMT
Ultimately, I think it just comes down to familiarity. Once your comfortable in an ambulance, with supply location, with driving that ambulance, and knowing its capabilities, they all become pretty much the same.
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Post by medic8 on Mar 20, 2016 2:01:57 GMT
At first i was very skeptical of the sprinter style ambulance. At first look I thought it would be awful in the wind do to it height. After almost two years of using them now I prefer them considerably over the conventional van style ambulances or the larger models I have used.
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